Doha – Former Algerian Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghozali died Tuesday at the Ain Naaja military hospital in Algiers at the age of 88, according to state television reports. His burial is scheduled for Wednesday after Dohr prayer at Ben Aknoun cemetery in Algiers.
Born on March 31, 1937, in Tighenif (Mascara), Ghozali was a graduate of École des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris.
He held numerous high-ranking positions throughout Algeria’s contemporary history, notably serving as Prime Minister during a critical period from June 1991 to July 8, 1992.
Ghozali’s career in public service began shortly after Algeria’s independence when he became one of the youngest government members, serving as Under-Secretary of State for Public Works in 1964.
He then headed Sonatrach, Algeria’s national oil company, from 1966 to 1977, overseeing the nationalization of hydrocarbons in 1971.
His ministerial career included positions as Minister of Energy and Petrochemical Industries (1977-1979), Minister of Hydraulics (1979-1980), Minister of Finance (1988-1989), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1989-1991).
Ghozali’s tenure as Prime Minister coincided with significant political upheaval, spanning the presidencies of Chadli Bendjedid and Mohamed Boudiaf.
After overseeing Algeria’s first multi-party legislative elections in December 1991, his term witnessed one of Algeria’s most controversial events – the assassination of President Boudiaf on June 29, 1992.
Boudiaf, who had spent 28 years in exile in Morocco before being called to lead Algeria, was gunned down during a televised speech at the Maison de la Culture in Annaba by a member of his own security detail.
The assassination occurred shortly after Boudiaf had begun expressing support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and had initiated investigations into corruption within the military establishment. Ghozali resigned from his position shortly after this pivotal event.
Following his time as Prime Minister, Ghozali served as Algeria’s ambassador to France from 1992 to 1994.
He later made two unsuccessful attempts to run for president in 1999 and 2004, and tried to establish a political party, which did not receive official approval.
His last public appearance was on February 25, 2024, at the El Moujahid Forum, where he discussed Algeria’s international positioning.
Current Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune acknowledged Ghozali’s passing, recognizing his service in various high-level state positions.
